Categories

Slate Roofing in Norfolk (Part 1)

Slate

Slate roofing is slowly becoming a trend within homeowners all over the United States once more. Just ask The Roofing and Remodeling Company, a Virginia Beach roofing company who has worked within the industry for years.

It has accomplished roofing jobs for many residents who are keen on making their homes visually appealing. In our years of being a roofing professional, we know that the need and wants of the people change. Slate roofing is gaining a momentum in the trend scene and the town of Norfolk is no exception.

You might be wondering, what is slate roofing and why is it becoming popular?

Let’s discuss first the main material used in this type of roof by roofing companies in Virginia Beach, which is slate. Slate is a type of naturally occurring stone that is durable and, also, really nice to look at. Its origins come from clay and mud that solidify over time into mica, chlorite, and quartz. It can come in varying colors such as gray, purple, green, black, or red. You can even find variegated slate that can blend these colors together.

Identifying an authentic slate roof is easy. Just look at the way light hits it at a certain angle. This is due to the high mica content of the stone, which normally takes up 40% of its composition. A lot of people find slate as a suitable and eye-catching material for roofs. The reason behind it is that the stone has this certain capability known as “cleavage.” This might sound weird, but the stone has this individual layers that can be cleaved off. Think of it as a deck of cards wherein you can easily pull off individual cards within the deck.

Slate also has its own grading system that can tell you how long its lifespan will be. According to InterNACHI, International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, slates come with the following grades:

S-1: this means that the slate has the life expectancy of 75 years or longer.

S-2: the slate can last 45 to 75 years.

S-3: the slate can last up to 45 years.

Normally, slate can outlast these life expectancies and can outlive the grades they were given. You won’t have to worry about replacing it that much. (Continued…)